Photographer's Note

"Anyone who has traveled to Phan Thiet or any of the fishing villages along Vietnam’s central coast will recognize the tiny basket-shaped boats called Thuyen Thung. They are so widely used in the region that they have become synonymous with well known places like Phan Thiet and Mui Ne.

The small, round bamboo boats put out to dry in the sun look like mushrooms growing on the sand. Thuyen thung have become thoroughly ensconced in the central coast’s local history and culture. One of the more famous legends surrounding the boats is that the French levied heavy taxes on boats and many poor villagers could not afford to keep their boats, so they invented the thuyen thung, thus evading taxes as the French did not consider the basket-like vessel hardly a boat.

Villagers make the boats by selecting and splitting high-quality bamboo into thin strips and drying them in the sun. They then skillfully bend and knit the strips into a round shape. After knitting, the boat is coated with many layers of dipterocarp resin for waterproofing.

A thuyen thung costs some VND1 million. Many households make thuyen thung by themselves, while some buy a boat from others."

experimenting with b&w conversions, any comments are welcome. uploaded the colour version as a ws..

Mark,
Awasome.....
Just impressive point of Thuyen Thung turrning showing realtionship between both.
Impressive waves on back & buch of ships(Boats).
Powerful shot.
Great one.
Great work . TFS,
Shailendra

Great photo Mark! There is plenty of action going around, although perfectly frozen by you shutter choice. The composition is very good; like the dual bamboo boats. Your black and white conversion really enhances the timeless mood of the photo. Like it a lot.

Superb shot, Mark, not just because oif the exquisitely timed foreground action but almost as much because of the flotilla in the back. Quite an "epic" shot in a way, which, interestingly enough is what Salgado is all about in my view, taking daily labors and elevating them.
A big bravo!
Francis

Quite a unique scene here, I have never seen one of these Thuyen Thung's before, and I'm also amazed at the amount of boats in the background as well. Your black and white conversion is spot on. Great work.

What an interesting looking boat. It would be like paddling out into the sea in a bowl. It looks like a huge basket, but it really is small for a boat. The motion you've caught is wonderful- the rope stretching out with the man adds so much to the photo. Great job!

Hi Mark,
what an amazing composition. These tiny basket-shaped boats called Thuyen Thung are impressing. The action of that man and his movement is great. Wonderful movement.
The scenery with all these boats in the background is cool. I even like the b+w.
Great image.
Nino

Hi Mark, looks like I am a little late to the table here, but I will chime in. Very good stuff; the timing is perfect, the second boat on the right is an excellent additional element and the boats on the horizon are hugely successful. I would consider just a little crop from the bottom but you probably want to keep it full frame. I prefer the other conversion you uploaded, but both are much better than the color version. Nice shot.

hello Mark
I'm sorry, I posted a workshop yesterday and no more time for comment :( ... but I'm here today ... :)
I like a lot this photo, the scene is dynamic and interesting
ok I'm stupid but "Thuyen Thung" make me thing to a big, big GI's helmet :)
As said some members the boats's alignment is wonderful ... ok no add value in my comment :)
I try a workshop ... and I know, it's not perfect (a little bit hard to "work" on a small size) ... but I think, it misses (a little bit) some contrast, and especially in the waves.
anyway a beautiful picture
bravo
Arnaud

Stunning shot Mark. Really good. The horizon is the wow factor here. So many boats! Almost like an armada of fishing boats. The man in the foreground takes all of that and distills it all, becoming the personification of all those other men on those boats. The conversion is really nice. B/w adds drama to this shot, and thats why I prefer b/w to color.

Szia Mark! This is amazing.... the moment that you caught, the incredible "exoticism" of the scene *sorry for the lack of a better term) and the marvellous bw conversion... the mometn is certainly decisive. The fishing boats on the horizon just add an icing on the cake. I am in awe...
sasa

I havent seen these boats before, so thanks for that and your note.
Your shot has great timing and the other boats dotted along the horizon make the icing on the cake. B&W looks very fine, Mark, but as I am certainly no expert on conversion, I'll leave the comments to those who can.

Hi Mark,
This is a superb action shot, very well captured. Love the B&W mood here complete with the rows of boats in the BG. This type of boats are seen in South India as well, similar nature, similar method. They are called coracles.With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

Amazing photo! The gallery of boats lining the horizon seems almost menacing, and the man wrestling with the gigantic lid looks as small and insignificant, yet as courageous, as Don Quixote.
Wonderful.

This is very very special, and should go into my favorites if I had any left. I like everything here, the scene with the boats, the waves, the BW and the incredible catch of the guy pulling the bamboo boat. Look at the leg in the air - Wonderful ! Izzet

Absolutely perfect composition. This Thuyen Thungs are very interesting and good photographic objects. Many boats in horizon is a great details in compo, and man's position is perfect. Bravo
Besst wishes

Great picture. The B&W works very well there. It's a very rich composition with a very well captured moment on the foreground, and the silhouettes of all these boats in the background. Excellent sharpness

Hi Mark, am hopelessly behind on commenting, but couldn't leave this one untouched. Absolutely beautiful moment captured here. The way the fisherman 'throws' his boat into the sea is so full of plenty! Beautifully composed and the horizon paved with fisher boats give this photo such a beautiful frame, wow, excellent work here! Sabine

Hi Mark,
Your gallery is excellent! This is a very dynamic shot. The B&W is good but I also liked the golden tones or the colored version. The army of boats on the horizon is excellent, it fills in the empty ocean very well.
Well done!
Nicolas

Mark,
yes, these boats are iconic of VN, and possibly over photographed. but you have managed to make this photo feel original and different. B+W is a good choice, although i think the highlights in the pic need some adjustment.
well done,
Brian